From Georgia to Minnesota and golf courses to underground mines, you can bet L&M Sales Representative Ryan Daley will always bring a competitive edge, striking charisma, and grounded pride to his work.
Hibbing, Minnesota – In 2020, Ryan Daley made the career jump of all career jumps. He left his home in Georgia, where he was born and raised, and his caddy job at Augusta National Golf Course to live in Hibbing, Minnesota and be closer to his daughter.
For those who don’t know, the Augusta National Golf Course is highly exclusive (access is invitation only) and is consistently ranked one of the top golf courses in the world. It hosts The Masters Tournament, one of the four major golf tournaments in professional golf.
For some, the jump from being a professional golf caddy to becoming a radiator sales representative might seem like a stretch, but for Ryan Daley, the leap made all the sense in the world. In Augusta, Daley caddied for extremely powerful people and celebrities. It was during these years that he honed the particular art of communication.
“Meeting such a wide variety of personality types from all over the world taught me how to read people. I learned when to talk, when not to talk, and how to identify what people are looking for out of their experience without them having to say it,” said Daley.
Similarly, on the course, Daley mastered the art of speaking to customers as a representative of the best in the game, a skill that he feels significantly contributes to his success at L&M.
“At Augusta National, we considered ourselves the best in our field. I still have that same feeling at L&M,” said Daley. “When somebody shows up at Augusta National to play, they’re so excited, they can’t believe they’re getting the chance to play there. Now, when I show up to sell a radiator, people know that I represent Mesabi, and that means they’re working with the best. For me, there’s a very clear parallel there.”
“Everyone at L&M is really proud of what they do,” said Daley. “We have a lot of pride in our product. All of us want to do well. I think that’s really rare, especially in today’s society. The culture of L&M is what sets it apart, and I think that people pick up on that.”
Work He Can Stand Behind
Daley started at L&M Radiator in March of 2022. First, he held a position in customer service for 1.5 years before moving into a sales role. Equipped with natural charisma, an affinity for making and maintaining relationships, and a customer-focused mindset, Daley soared in both positions.
“A big part of the job is being customer-focused and trying to help people whenever you can,” said Daley. “The good thing about working for L&M is that we make a really good product, the Mesabi radiator. In the radiator field, we are the best. So, it’s really awesome to know that I’ve never had a customer be disappointed with our product. In sales, if you’re selling something that you’re proud of and believe in, it’s pretty effortless. I truly do care about our customers, and I know that using our product will help them out in the long run and serve their best interests.”
When he first started as a sales representative at L&M, Daley was assigned to the local mines in Hibbing. At first, this was intimidating to Daley, who had just come from out of town and wanted to do right by the local mining culture. But Daley loves competition and a challenge. So, naturally, he succeeded from the get-go.
“One of the things I’m most proud of is now we’re working with local mines more than ever,” said Daley. “I’ve been very welcomed on the mine sites and they’ve been really good to me. I’m proud of that. Coming in from out of town as a Georgia boy and gaining the trust of customers means a great deal to me.”
As a sales representative, Daley travels roughly every other week to visit customers on-site. Though the majority of his travel takes place in his sales region, which mainly covers the Midwest, he does go on a few international excursions each year to attend trade shows such as The Electric Mine Conference, EXPONOR or BAUMA.
“The thing about our company is when we go on trips, it’s really fun,” said Daley. “We spend time together. You form great bonds with the other sales reps from across the world.”
According to Daley, L&M’s friendly, people-first culture is one of his favorite things about his job – and why he’s considering staying for a long time.
“Coming from Georgia, I’ve only been here for about six years. In that time, L&M has become a second family to me,” said Daley. “I’ve made so many friends and spend time with them outside of work, playing golf or being outdoors. I know that I can rely on them and they’ve really accepted me. That’s really important. Being a guy with a southern accent who’s from the other side of the nation in this small Minnesota town, it’s not always a given that people are going to accept you or you’re going to fit in. So, it’s a big deal.”
If you’re ever looking for Daley outside of working hours, it’s a sure bet that you’ll find him at the golf course. He’s still searching for a winter activity he loves as much as golfing. For now, he spends his winter evenings spending quality time playing video games with his daughter.
L&M Radiator: Work With the Best
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